Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-10-16

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many countries around the world, rural people are moving to cities, so the population in the countryside is decreasing.

Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 6.5)

People from rural areas are shifting to the cities in most of the countries due to which there is a population decline in the countryside. In my opinion, this is a negative development as it leads to overpopulation in the cities, which results in an increased pollution, lack of resources and effects our environment.

The population of the cities has been increasing, rapidly. As a result there is an increase in pollution. This is making a city life more unhealthy by adding to the traffic and noise pollution. The smoke from the vehicles is contaminating the air, causing air pollution. This pollution is increasing day by day with an increase in the number of citizens. For example, Lahore has become one of the most polluted cities in the world over the years, but people from rural areas are still moving to Lahore for better lifestyle, risking their own health.

Rural areas lack basic facilities and job opportunities so, people move to the cities for education and work puposes. Meanwhie, the resources in the cities are decreasing due to the increase in population. For example, the food resources of a city depend on rural vegetation and crops, but people from rural areas are leaving their traditonal farming to move to the city. This results in a decrease in crop production, which causes a decline of food resources.

In conclusion, there are some valid reasons for people to move to the cities but it leads to environmental pollution and over-population in a city. Meanwhile, there is a decrease in rural population, which eventually decreases the food that come from rural areas. There must be an availability of all the basic facilities in the rural areas so that people may not move to the cities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

Your position is clear from the introduction: you consider rural-to-urban migration negative, chiefly because of urban pollution and pressure on resources. Both main points are relevant and supported with examples, particularly Lahore’s air pollution and the link you draw between rural farming and city food supplies. You also acknowledge why people move, citing facilities, education and work, and your conclusion offers a relevant response. This gives the essay a clear answer to the question with ideas extended and supported. To strengthen the development further, explain the causal links more precisely: for instance, clarify how migration specifically reduces crop production, rather than implying that everyone leaving rural areas stops farming. Some claims about pollution and resources are broad, so a more specific explanation or example would make the support more convincing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction states your view, two body paragraphs develop separate consequences, and the conclusion restates your position and recommendation. The progression from urban pollution to pressure on food resources is easy to follow, and examples are placed alongside the points they support. You also use linking expressions such as “As a result,” “For example,” and “In conclusion.” At times, however, connections feel mechanical or the reference is not fully clear. “Meanwhile” does not express the relationship between the ideas in the second body paragraph, and the repeated use of “pollution” and “increase” makes some links less flexible. Use more precise transitions and vary how you refer back to the central ideas to make the flow smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “overpopulation,” “traffic and noise pollution,” “basic facilities,” “job opportunities,” and “crop production.” These choices make the main argument clear, and the examples are easy to understand. There are also some inaccurate or awkward choices that limit precision: “effects our environment” should be “affects our environment,” while “better lifestyle” and “food resources” are not the most natural expressions in context. Spelling slips such as “puposes,” “Meanwhie,” and “traditonal” are noticeable, although the intended meaning remains clear. Aim for more accurate collocations and proofread spelling; this will help you express the same ideas more naturally and precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including cause-and-effect clauses such as “This is making a city life more unhealthy by adding to the traffic and noise pollution” and a relative clause in “the food resources of a city depend on rural vegetation and crops, but people from rural areas are leaving…”. Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, and the overall argument remains understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, however. In “there is an increase in pollution,” the following sentence would benefit from clearer article use (“making city life…”); “an increased pollution” is also an inaccurate article-and-noun construction. The sentence beginning “In conclusion” shifts between singular “food” and plural “come,” and “there is a decrease… which eventually decreases” has an unclear reference. Review articles, agreement and sentence punctuation, while continuing to use varied structures.

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